Let’s check our math: This is actually the FIFTH Gap Band album – but the third for the Total Experience production imprint. This was the Wilson Brothers (and Co.) first platinum album, with at least two or three big hits on it. Burn Rubber On Me, the quiet storm Yearning For Your Love, and the p-funk of Humpin’ are all classics. Cavin Yarbrough (Yarbrough & Peoples) provides the wicked synth bass on ‘Burn Rubber’. Although the two previous Gap Band LPs showed them consolidating their own distinct sound, this is where it all starts to come together for them. You’ll still hear shades of EW&F, The Commodores, and other influences. Check out that steel guitar on Sweet Caroline – NOT the Neil Diamond song, incidentally – and tell me if you can’t imagine Lionel Ritchie singing it. Or maybe Stevie Wonder? In 1980 he released a weird country-funk track on his Hotter Than July album that also happened to feature Charlie and Robert Wilson. Subtract some points for some phoned-in lyrics, like the sappy “Nothin’ Comes To Sleepers,” where they rhyme the word dream with… dream. Nice harp though, I’m serious. “Are You Living” is an upbeat anthem featured in an inspirational 1980’s film that exists only in my imagination, with a scene involving a track suit, weight training, and sealing that Big Deal that makes you a partner at the firm. Are you giving life everything you’ve got? Don’t be deceived though: try following that bass line in the chorus that keeps shifting around under you. It’s most definitely a sign that things will come unraveled in the final act.

Note that this is not a mint copy, it was previously owned by a Fort Myers, Florida, dance club. But it’s not real noisy and the little bit of surface grit just adds “dusties station authenticity” or something.

I’m going to bring up the thing about donations and patrons and covering the costs of this here blog again. Think of it as our Spring Pledge Drive for people who need something a little funkier than NPR every now and then. Unlike public radio, I can’t say that “This post would not be possible without the support of readers like you!” because, well, I only have one person signed up on Patreon so far. Hell I can’t even treat them to the promised ‘perk’ of an opinion poll with those numbers Where’s the fun in that, they totally know how it’s going to turn out! Really though, I’ve bee doing this without reader support for a long time and will no doubt continue to do so. But the domain name is up for renewal, server costs must be paid, and I’m still combing the job listings and trying to figure out how I’m going to land on my feet in the new world order.. If you can spare a dollar a month, please consider being a part of the crowdfunding future and click the link at the bottom of the post.

5 Comments

Hi Charlie, just wanted to say I was tired of waiting for my strawberry pop, so I put the pedal to the metal back in ’80. But I never meant to hurt you, for real, call me if you’d like to do the vicious hump one of these days, for old times’ sakes.